Outer shoe sole unit



Dec. 6, 1955 Filed Feb. 19 1953 J. D. SCALA OUTER SHOE SOLE UNIT 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JOSEPH D. ScALA Dec. 6, 1955 J. D. SCALA2,725,645

OUTER SHOE SOLE UNIT Filed Feb. 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOSEPH D 5CALAAI'YFH/VE) United States Patent O OUTER SHOE SOLE UNIT Joseph D. Scala,Bronx, N. Y.

Application February 19, 1953, Serial No. 337,805

1 Claim. (Cl. 36-3) This invention relates to sole constructions forfootwear and, more particularly, to an outer sole unit for an article offootwear.

It is well known that the laminated sections of an inner sole and anouter sole when joined have a tendency toward stiffness because of themulti-ply effect of said sections. That is, when a moderately flexibleinner sole and a moderately flexible outer sole are assembled in a shoeand secured together, the resulting structure is very greatly stifferthan either of its components.

It is a principal object of the present invention to dissipate thismulti-ply effect by providing an outer sole unit for an article offootwear, such as a shoe, having a moderately flexible outer sole and amoderately flexible inner sole secured to part of the outer sole only sothat an unexpected and highly desirable degree of flexibility results,affording a cushioning or sponge support for the foot of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outer sole unit for ashoe and the like which constantly conditions the foot of the wearer forcomfort and ease in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outer sole unit for ashoe and the like which does not transmit heat to the foot of the wearerthereby preventing perspiration and enhancing the healthy condition ofthe foot.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an outer sole unitwith an integral arch support whereby displacement of the arch supportis prevented and its fixed position assured.

It is further proposed to provide an outer sole unit for a shoe and thelike which is sturdy, pebble-proof and pleasing in appearance.

It is further proposed to construct an outer sole unit for an article offootwear which is simple in construction and which can be manufacturedand sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a top plan view of an outer sole unit embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof showing the cushioning strip andinner sole in raised condition. 7

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l but with the inner sole omitted.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the sole unit.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of the line 5-5of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the improved outer sole unit shown hereincomprises a full length outer sole indicated generally at 10 of usualthickness which is preferably of rubber or rubber composition adapted tobe molded into a predetermined shape. The outer sole consists of a toeor forepart 11, shank part 12 and heel part 13. A narrow upstanding rim14 extends around the periphery of the outersole on its inner face, andthe rim is formed on its upper face throughout its length withornamental ridges 15. Theouter sole ascends at the location of theinstep arch from the center portion and extends to its inner sidewhereby an arch support 16 is formed which is integral with the outersole. A cavity 17 is formed in the inner face of the outer sole, saidcavity conforming to the shape of the outer sole and extending thelength thereof thereby providing a shouldered portion 18 therearound andbetween it and the rim 14. The base of the cavity at the heel part 13is. formed with a plurality of air pockets 19, arranged in tic-tac-toefashion.

' A lining strip 20 of cushioning material such as cork, sponge. orpaper'and the like is fitted in the cavity 17an'd covers the pockets 19therein. The strip 20' is substan tially equal in thickness to the depthof the cavity 17 so that after the cushioning strip has been insertedinto the cavity it will substantially fill the latter and the uppersurface of the cushioning strip will be substantially flush with that ofthe surface of the shouldered portion 18. The strip is secured in placeover the toe or forepart 11 by means of a suitable adhesive 21, such asrubber cement. The remainder of the strip which extends over the shankpart and heel part is unattached, fitting loosely in the cavity 17. Therim 14 facilitates the proper location of the cushioning strip.

An inner sole 22 of leather or other suitable flexible material isplaced over the cushioning strip and secured to the outer sole 10, overthe toe or forepart 11, by a line of stitching 23, along the shoulderedportion 18. The stitching may be lock-stitching or chain-stitching andmay be done accurately and rapidly by machinery already available forthat purpose, or the stitching may be done by hand if desired.Furthermore, the outer surface of the outer sole It may be provided witha groove 24 along its peripheral edge so that the line of stitching maybe countersunk therein to protect it from wear. The remaining portion ofthe inner sole which extends over the shank and heel parts isunattached, the same as the cushioning strip 20 so that said inner soleand the cushioning strip are movable at the rear of the shoe or otherarticle of footwear as shown in Fig. 2.

Because of the inherent flexibility of the inner sole 22 and the softyielding character of the cushioning strip 20 and the loose condition ofsuch parts, the flexibility of the outer sole is increased overconventional shoe construction and a uniform walking surface isproduced. The loose condition of the inner sole and the cushioning stripat the heel part, permits air to enter the pockets 19, and the action ofthe rubber making up the outer sole 10 and the walls 25 defining thepockets 19 in the heel part is such that in walking, the heel contactingwith the ground first causes compression of the rubber and gradualconstriction of the Walls 25 of the air pockets 19 with the result thatair is forced out of the pockets and into the shoe or other article offootwear thereby ventilating the foot of the wearer and conditioning itfor comfort. When pressure of the heel is released, air is sucked intothe pockets. This air is sucked in and expelled at each walking step,the air assisting in cushioning the foot of the wearer and at the sametime ventilating it. The arrangement of the pockets in tic-tac-toefashion enhances the cushioning effect.

It will be understood that the outer sole 10 may be made of leather,plastic, foam rubber, crepe rubber or other suitable rubber mixtures orcompositions.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifi- P'atented" Dec. 6, 1 5

cations coming within the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent An outer sole unit for a shoe,said unit being adapted to provide flexibility and ventilation, saidsole unit, comprising an outer sole member comprising a fore part, ashank part and a heel part with an arch support in said shank part onthe inner side of said outer sole member, a substantially flat smoothcavity of substantially uniform depth in the upper face of said outersole member and eX- tending from the heel part to the fore part butaround the arch support, a substantially flat margin extending aroundsaid cavity from one corner of said arch support to the other cornerthereof, air pockets below said cavity in the heel part only, acushioning strip in said cavity overlying said air pockets and extendingto the tip of the fore part, said strip being attached to the bottom ofsaid cavity only at the fore part thereof and unattached about the rearpart thereof, the upper surface of the cushioning strip upper surfacethereof flush with the upper surface of said inner sole.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,167,035 Westheimer July 25, 1939 2,292,318 Daly Aug. 4, 1942 2,614,342Hoza Oct. 21, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,986 Great Britain Jan. 28, 1932376,872 Italy Nov. 29, 1939 499,470 Great Britain Jan. 24, 1939 974,150France Sept. 27, 1950

